title: Can spiral analysis predict the FP-CIT SPECT scan result in tremulous patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have compared the accuracy of spiral analysis in distinguishing essential tremor (ET) from PD. In this study, we have used this technique to distinguish cases of tremulous PD (TDPD) (N = 24) from tremulous parkinsonian subjects without evidence of dopaminergic deficit (N = 41).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were characterized on clinical and (123)I-N-ω-fluoro-propyl-2ß-carbomethoxy-3ß-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane ([(123)I] FP-CIT) SPECT scan data, which were concordant in every case. All analyses were carried out by observers blinded to the clinical details and supplied with just the spiral drawings, from which tremor severity (TS), 3-turn spiral diameter (3TD), and spiral density (SD) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The spirals drawn by TDPD cases had significantly smaller 3TD (P = 0.029) and greater SD (P = 0.0082) than those with normal FP-CIT scans. There was no significant difference in the TS between the two groups (P = 0.11). The sensitivity and specificity of TS were 62.5% and 65.0%, 3TD were 75% and 56.7%, and SD were 30.4% and 82.5%, respectively, in predicting the correct classification. Further analyses combining these factors into pairs, showed that the respective sensitivities and specificities of (1) TS × 3TD were 75.0% and 40.0%, (2) TS/SD were 56% and 70.0%, and (3) 3TD/SD were 87.0% and 40.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are significant differences in the 3TD and SD of spirals drawn by tremulous patients with normal versus abnormal FP-CIT scans. Spiral analysis may have some clinical value in helping to distinguish tremulous parkinsonian patients with normal presynaptic dopaminergic imaging from tremulous PD patients, providing results similar to those reported for expert movement disorder neurologists using standardized videotaped examinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Nin.bajaj@nuh.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Nin P S
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Bajaj
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knöbel
authors.forename: Vamsi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gontu
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Bain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D014326:Tropanes
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D014326:Tropanes; C087552:2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropane